Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that all the people, except for little children, had been properly taught the commandments of God.  People who have been taught the truth but choose to disobey it and go against what they know, withdraw themselves from the Spirit so it has no place in them.  Note that it is we who withdraw ourselves from the Spirit, not the other way around.  It is our choice. When we choose to rebel against God in this way, we are obeying the evil spirit and there will be no place for the Lord in us, for He cannot dwell in unholy temples. Unless we repent, we will be filled with guilt, pain, and anguish and will endure never-ending torment. Those who fall into transgression are in an awful situation! But those who keep the commandments of God are in a blessed and happy state and they will be able to dwell with God forever in a state of never ending happiness. The choice is ours--repent and be happy forever or rebel against God and spend eternity in awful misery. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!  Mosiah 2:34-41 "I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down to the time our father, Lehi, left Jerusalem;  And also, all that has been spoken by our fathers until now. And behold, also, they spake that which was commanded them of the Lord; therefore, they are just and true. And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved— I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.  Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.  And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.  O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression. And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

In the Old Testament we read about how one thing after another went wrong with Job, with servants one after another coming to him and reporting terrible disasters concerning Job's property, flocks, and children.  But even after all this terrible news Job blessed the name of the Lord and did not sin.  What an example this is for us all to follow.  When bad things happen, we can still find reason to praise the Lord.  Job 1:13-22 "And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Going along with this, a verse with a thought booklet likewise talks about praising the name of God with song and magnifying Him with thanksgiving. Psalms 69:30 "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving."